Jean Bastien-Thiry

Jean Bastien-Thiry (19 October 1927-11 March 1963) was a Lieutenant-Colonel of the French Air Force and a leader of the OAS. He was executed by firing squad in 1963 for his role in Operation Charlotte Corday, a failed attempt on Charles de Gaulle's life.

Biography
Jean Bastien-Thiry was born in Luneville, France on 19 October 1927 to a military family; his father was a member of the Gaullist Rally of the French People party. Bastien-Thiry served in the French Air Force and designed missiles for military usage, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He joined the OAS due to his opposition to a French withdrawal from Algeria, and he was the man sent to execute Operation Charlotte Corday, the assassination of President Charles de Gaulle. The assassins raked his car with fire, but De Gaulle escaped unscathed; Bastien-Thiry was captured after returning from the United Kingdom. His lawyer failed to appeal for clemency, and Bastien-Thiry arrogantly quipped that no French soldier would fire upon him. However, he was executed by firing squad on 11 March 1963.